Open Days
Open Days are a great way to experience a taste of life and study at Tocal College. Spend a day on campus, see the farms, and learn about the courses, programs and policies.
Thinking about a career in agriculture?
The most important work you can do is the growing of food. Do you want to do something important with your life? How would you like a career that grew with you? A career that would present new challenges and opportunities for your whole working life? Get started on your path at Tocal. Do the most important work there is.
Tocal courses are renowned Australia-wide for providing students with practical training, development of industry-relevant skills and experience in general agriculture, beef cattle, dairying, rural business management, sheep production, cropping and conservation and land management.
Tocal College prides itself on offering the most current training available and so responds to industry changes as quickly as possible.
- AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture (also available via rural traineeship)
- AHC30821 Certificate III in Horse Care
- AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture (also available via rural traineeship)
- AHC50122 Diploma of Agriculture (available online)
Career options for Tocal students
Tocal College prepares graduates for a wide variety of agricultural and horse industry positions. Learn more about the careers available either immediately or with further study.
More information
Students are required to have completed year 10 or equivalent, to meet minimum requirements in English and Maths and have a strong interest in a career in agriculture or horse husbandry. There may be advantages for some students in completing Year 12, particularly if considering going on to the AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture course or higher studies.
Most students gain entry to the AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture course after successful completion of their Certificate III level qualification. Direct entry is possible provided prerequisite skills and knowledge are adequately demonstrated. Normally this requires, as a minimum, completion of the HSC Primary Industries and/or Agriculture AND significant farm experience e.g. normally equivalent to working one year, full time on a farm that is able to provide experience in a wide range of work.
- Both Certificate III programs (ie. AHC30122 Certificate III in Agricultural and AHC30821 Certificate III in Horse Care) normally require one year of full-time study to complete requirements.
- The AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture course is normally attempted by students in their second year. It is a fulltime course that concludes with a second, and final, off-campus placement for one month in mid-October.
While studying the Certificate IV in Agriculture full-time, it is possible to attempt the AHC50122 Diploma in Agriculture online with face-to-face support. Resources are available to support Diploma studies but in order to complete it within the same year, students must be disciplined and able to organise their own independent study. Successful completion of the Diploma provides considerable credit towards a Degree at several Australian universities.
Studying fulltime at Tocal makes use of the College's farm resources at every opportunity. As a student you will investigate case studies of real farm problems over a wide range of topics. You will develop knowledge and skills that are relevant and provide practical solution to modern agriculture. This is backed up by practical work on the College and other commercial farms as well as intensive, practical skills training. You will also experience a variety of valuable, personal development opportunities designed to develop your communication, team work and decision making and make you sought after by employers.
Depending on the course you are taking you may study in areas such as:
Before enrolling in first year, students will need to decide if they want to take the general Agricultural Production program or specialised Stock Horse Training and Breeding program. Then:
- Complete the application and medical history forms.
- Provide copies of your most recent school results (plus work references if having left school for over a year)
- Arrange an informal interview at the College. Interviews are held during Open Days. Students who are unable to attend an open day can arrange an interview at another time. In some cases it may be appropriate for you to have an interview by phone.
- Applications for the AHC30821 Certificate III in Horse Care (Stock horse training and breeding program) close at the end of October.
- Applications for the AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture close in mid December. Later applications may be considered in January if places are still available.
There are a large number of scholarships available to students. Visit our Financial Assistance page for more information.
AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture
This one-year, full-time course prepares students who have completed Year 10, 11 or 12 for a variety of career paths in agriculture. It reinforces valuable practical training with the underpinning knowledge required to work independently across a wide range of farms and agribusiness.
ACM30821 Certificate III in Horse Care
Graduates of Tocal’s stock horse program are respected nationwide for their skills and knowledge in horse handling, husbandry, breeding and training. They find jobs in a wide variety of equine related industries including as horse breakers/trainers, stationhands, vet assistants, polo grooms, and stud work for the thoroughbred, stock and performance horse industries.
Study full-time or do a traineeship
Students who come to the CB Alexander Campus can choose to live on-campus or participate as day-students when studying full-time at Tocal. Students can also study traineeships at Tocal while working in the industry, visiting Tocal at either the CB Alexander or Yanco campus for study blocks and gaining practical experience on the job.
Take it further
An advanced course, the AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture, is available as a full-time study program at Tocal’s CB Alexander campus. It provides the skills and knowledge for graduates to work as senior farm hands, farm supervisors and in agribusiness. The AHC50122 Diploma of Agriculture is also offered which can be studied online with face-to-face support.
Achieving a qualification through Tocal College will allow you to gain academic credit towards a university degree. Tocal College, in partnership with University of New England at Armidale, is offering a new pathway of study to a Bachelor of Agricultural Production and Management (Agrifood Systems). Find out more about the Tocal College pathway to UNE degree.
Find out more
Fees
Your full-time course fees will vary depending on your situation and may be reduced by government subsidies, support payments, concessions and/or scholarships. Visit each course page for more information about the fees associated with traineeships, industry qualifications and short courses.
Financial assistance
You may be eligible for financial assistance while you study, including Smart and Skilled subsidies, Australian Government support payments and/or a Tocal College scholarship.
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